Notebook
The best Goodnotes alternatives in 2027, compared.
Seven note-taking apps for stylus and tablet: what each one does well, where it falls short and which one fits you.
Contents
Why switchAt a glanceNotability and NoteshelfFree appsMyScript NotesHazelnote for studyingCommon questionsThe bottom line- For handwriting on the iPad, Notability and Noteshelf are the closest relatives of Goodnotes.
- OneNote is free and runs on almost any device, and Apple and Samsung devices already come with a notes app built in.
- If you want to study from your notes for exams, Hazelnote gives you summaries, flashcards and a study plan in one app.
For many people, Goodnotes is the first note-taking app on their tablet, and for good reason. Still, plenty of people look for an alternative: they don't want a subscription, they switch between iPad and Android, or they want to do more with their notes. Here are seven apps with their strengths, weaknesses, platforms and pricing model, as of November 2026.
Why look for a Goodnotes alternative at all?
Goodnotes does a lot these days: handwriting and PDFs, audio recording, search inside your handwriting, AI flashcards and real-time collaboration. It runs on Apple devices, Android, Windows and the web. There are still good reasons to switch, and they depend on what you want to do with your notes.
- Devices: A library that syncs between Apple and non-Apple devices is only part of the Goodnotes Pro plan.
- Cost: The free plan covers three files. Beyond that you need a subscription or, on Apple devices in some countries, the one-time purchase edition.
- Studying: Goodnotes is first of all a notebook. Its pricing page lists no study plan up to an exam date and no practice exams.
If Goodnotes works for you, there's no need to switch. For handwriting, PDFs and planners it is one of the most polished apps around, with its own marketplace full of templates. The alternatives below are worth a look if one of the three points above bothers you.
Goodnotes alternatives at a glance
The table shows six well-known alternatives with their platforms and their free tier. We introduce Hazelnote separately further down, because it has a different focus. Prices change often and vary by country, so we only describe the pricing model here.
| App | Runs on | Free | Best at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notability | Apple, Windows, Android, web | 5 notes | Recordings |
| Noteshelf | Apple, Android, Windows | Basic version | Templates |
| OneNote | Almost everywhere | Yes | Many devices |
| Samsung Notes | Samsung devices | Preinstalled | S Pen, Galaxy AI |
| Apple Notes | iPhone, iPad, Mac | Preinstalled | Quick notes |
| MyScript Notes | Apple, Android, Windows | Limited | Handwriting to text |
For handwriting on the iPad: Notability and Noteshelf
These two apps feel the most like Goodnotes: pages like paper, a pen, templates and PDFs. If you mostly take notes with an Apple Pencil, you'll feel at home right away. The difference is the focus: Notability leans on recordings and AI for studying, Noteshelf on templates and organization.
Notability
A good fit if you record a lot of lectures. Notability records audio and transcribes it live, and it adds AI summaries, quizzes, flashcards and chat with your notes. Downsides: The free plan covers only five notes, and unlimited quizzes and transcriptions come only with the most expensive plan. It runs on iPad, iPhone, Mac and Windows, and since August 2026 on Android and the web too, with yearly or monthly plans.
Noteshelf
A good fit if you want lots of templates for planners, journals and notes and would rather pay once. Noteshelf comes with more than 200 templates, records audio and, with Premium, turns handwriting into searchable text. Downsides: Its AI summarizes, explains and translates, but Noteshelf doesn't mention flashcards or quizzes. It runs on iPad, iPhone, Mac, Android and Windows, and Premium comes as a subscription or a one-time purchase.
Free and already there: OneNote, Apple Notes and Samsung Notes
These three apps cost nothing extra and are often already installed. For simple notes they're all you need. For studying, though, you'll have to organize more yourself.
Microsoft OneNote
A good fit if you work across many devices or already use Microsoft 365. OneNote is free and runs on Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android and the web, with pen input and audio recording. Downsides: OneNote is more of a place to collect things than a study tool, and its AI, Copilot, requires a paid Microsoft subscription.
Apple Notes
A good fit if you only use Apple devices and want to jot things down quickly. It comes preinstalled on iPhone, iPad and Mac, records audio and transcribes it, and on devices with Apple Intelligence it also summarizes recordings. Downsides: It's Apple only, and it brings few templates or study features.
Samsung Notes
A good fit if you have a Galaxy tablet or phone with an S Pen. Samsung Notes comes preinstalled there, and with Galaxy AI it can transcribe, summarize and translate recordings. Downsides: It's only available on Samsung devices, and the AI needs a Samsung account and an internet connection.
When handwriting should become text: MyScript Notes
MyScript Notes is the new name of Nebo; on Windows the app is still called Nebo. It recognizes handwriting in 66 languages and turns it into text, math and clean diagrams. Its AI summarizes, explains, creates quiz questions and answers questions about your notes.
A good fit if you want your notes to end up as clean text. Downsides: After a seven-day trial only a limited free version remains, and everything else is paid, at prices that vary by country. It runs on iPad, iPhone, Android, Windows and Macs with Apple silicon.
If you want to study from your notes: Hazelnote
Most apps here are notebooks: they help you capture things. Hazelnote starts one step later, with the question of how your notes turn into knowledge for the exam. For that it has a notebook for pen and finger with templates like Cornell and PDF import, and study tools next to it.
From a recording, a PDF, a photo or a link, Hazelnote writes an organized summary. That becomes quizzes and flashcards, and whatever you don't know yet comes up more often. Pro adds a study plan up to your exam date with practice exams, an AI tutor you talk to, audio versions of your notes and the AI pen.
Downsides: Hazelnote is only available for iPhone, iPad and Android, not for Mac, Windows or the web. It doesn't search handwriting, and there's no free plan: you choose Essential or Pro, and you can try the yearly plan free for three days. For the full comparison, read Hazelnote vs. Goodnotes.
Before you switch
- Write down which devices you need your notes on
- Check whether the free tier is enough for your semester
- Export a Goodnotes notebook as a PDF and open it in the new app
- Take notes in a real lecture, not just on a blank test page
Common questions
The bottom line
The best Goodnotes alternative depends on what you need. For handwriting on the iPad, Notability and Noteshelf come close, OneNote is free and everywhere, and Apple Notes or Samsung Notes are enough for quick notes. If you want to study from your notes for a specific exam, Hazelnote takes you the furthest, because summary, flashcards and study plan are connected there.
